‘Are you the messiah?’ EFF’s Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi puts DA on the spot over eThekwini promises

From accusations of failing black communities in Cape Town to a fiery row over security guards and workers’ rights, the DA and EFF clashed consistently. Holding the coalitions accountable for the decisions they make, putting up our hands and saying this is wrong,” she said.

‘Are you just doing this to get votes?’

Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi took aim at the DA, questioning its record in Cape Town while challenging the party’s promises to fix eThekwini. Mkhaliphi confronted Kissoon over what she described as failures to improve the lives of residents in Cape Town, arguing that the party could not present itself as a saviour for Durban while communities in the city continued to face poor living conditions.

Mkhaliphi said. Her remarks challenged the DA to explain why voters in eThekwini should trust it to deliver better services when, according to her, residents in Cape Town continued to face poor living conditions. Mkhaliphi also questioned whether the DA was selective about the communities it prioritised, suggesting that its promises to eThekwini residents were politically motivated.

Drawing on her five years in council, Kissoon challenged the EFF to demonstrate how it had opposed budgets or raised concerns through the municipality’s committee structures. “I’ve been sitting in council for five years. I’d like to see where the EFF did not vote against the budget or challenge any of the issues at hand, especially when it affected the people concerned.

Mkhaliphi hit back at the DA’s criticism of its record on budget accountability, accusing the party of opposing the insourcing of workers during the previous council.